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China Officially Allows Group Tours to Resume to Thailand After three years of travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, China has dropped a restriction on group tours to Thailand and 19 other countries as of Friday, January 20th, 2023 in a sudden announcement. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284131-china-officially-allows-group-tours-to-resume-to-thailand/

After three years of travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, China has dropped a restriction on group tours to Thailand and 19 other countries as of Friday, January 20th, 2023 in a sudden announcement. China had previously dropped overall individual international travel restrictions earlier this month. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism in China made the announcement, which also included countries like Russia and New Zealand. Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/01/20/china-officially-allows-group-tours-to-resume-to-thailand/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2023-01-20 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

Peck Palitchoke joins UNICEF to provide a Magic Box to children in need in Thailand Bangkok, 19 January 2023 – Friend of UNICEF Peck Palitchoke Ayanaputra once again joins UNICEF Thailand to mobilize public support to provide children in need with a Magic Box, a practical set of learning materials to help children’s physical and cognitive development. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284130-peck-palitchoke-joins-unicef-to-provide-a-magic-box-to-children-in-need-in-thailand/

Bangkok, 19 January 2023 – Friend of UNICEF Peck Palitchoke Ayanaputra once again joins UNICEF Thailand to mobilize public support to provide children in need with a Magic Box, a practical set of learning materials to help children’s physical and cognitive development. “The early years are the most critical years in a child’s life, and we must do all we can to ensure that the children eat well, play hard and live in a loving and engaging environment that helps stimulate their optimal development,” said Peck Palitchoke Ayanaputra, Friend of UNICEF. “Sadly, millions of children in Thailand still lack basic learning materials and the support they need to reach their full potential,” he continued. In Thailand, 66 percent of children under five years old, or around 2.8 million children, have less than three books at home, while 20 percent of them, or around 860,000, hardly have any toys at all, according to the 2019 Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey conducted by the National Statistical Office and supported by UNICEF. In addition, only 34 percent of fathers engage in activities with their children at home. Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/01/20/peck-palitchoke-joins-unicef-to-provide-a-magic-box-to-children-in-need-in-thailand/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2023-01-20 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

Banners supporting two hunger strikers raised at Thammasat and Chulalongkorn universities Image Credit: Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) Political banners popped up on the campuses of Chulalongkorn and Thammasat universities on Friday, urging students to “wake up” politically and not to submit to suppression of free expression. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284129-banners-supporting-two-hunger-strikers-raised-at-thammasat-and-chulalongkorn-universities/

Image Credit: Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) Political banners popped up on the campuses of Chulalongkorn and Thammasat universities on Friday, urging students to “wake up” politically and not to submit to suppression of free expression. The banners are in support of two monarchy reformists, Tantawan Tuatulanon and Orawan Phuphong, who voluntarily revoked their own bail to return to a women’s remand home to start their hunger strikes. The two protesters rallied in front of the Criminal Court on Monday to announce their decision to return to the Central Women’s Correctional Institution (CWCI) and to begin their hunger strikes in two days, if their demand for the release of all political detainees and prisoners is not met. Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/banners-supporting-two-hunger-strikers-raised-at-thammasat-and-chulalongkorn-universities/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-01-20 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

The downtown HCMC area where vehicles are banned from during Lunar New Year's Eve is highlighted in red. Photo courtesy of the HCMC Department of Transport All vehicles will be prohibited from downtown Ho Chi Minh City Saturday night through midnight to make room for fireworks and other Tet celebrations. In District 1, the no-vehicles area will be bordered by Vo Van Kiet, Ton Duc Thang, Le Duan and Pasteur streets. A section of Nguyen Tat Thanh Street from Hoang Dieu to the Khanh Hoi Bridge in District 4 will also be blocked to traffic and the Ba Son bridge will also be closed, according to the Ho Chi Minh City department of transport. The vehicle ban, from 8 p.m. Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday, means that vehicles traveling between District 1 and District 4 will be directed to take an alternate route using the Calmette Bridge. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/vehicles-banned-from-downtown-hcmc-at-lunar-new-year-s-eve-4562033.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2023-01-20

The car that carried Thai Ly Hao Nam's coffin home on January 20, 2023, 21 days after he fell into a hollow concrete pillar and died. Photo by Thanh Tung The body of a 10-year-old boy who died after being trapped inside a 35-meter-deep concrete pillar was retrieved Friday morning. At 1:20 a.m. two members of a rescue team from the Dong Thap Province police department wearing oxygen masks went down to a depth of 24m in an iron pipe that was driven in around the pillar into which Thai Ly Hao Nam fell, and used specialized equipment to bring his body up. The task took nearly two hours. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/boy-s-body-retrieved-from-concrete-pillar-21-days-after-he-fell-in-4562199.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2023-01-20

Traffic was chaotic in Hanoi and Saigon Friday, the final working day of lunar year 2022, as millions began the exodus home for Tet, Vietnam’s biggest festival. From 3 p.m. Thursday, traffic came to a virtual standstill at Hanoi’s western gateway. At Mai Linh Bridge in Ha Dong District, vehicles backed up for more than a kilometer in either direction. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/photo/news/hanoi-hcmc-gateways-jammed-as-people-return-home-for-tet-4562260.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2023-01-20

Cargo trucks queue along Road 10 at the North Harbor Port in Manila on September 15, 2022. STAR / Edd Gumban MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) yesterday asked the public to give the Trusted Operator Program – Container Registry and Monitoring System (TOP-CRMS) a chance amid backlash from business and other groups. The TOP-CRMS, the PPA said, should be understood, since it will be a “big benefit… against the high and unregulated charges on logistics costs.” This will cover the container deposit and the missing empty containers, PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said. Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/01/20/2238899/ppa-give-container-registry-system-chance -- © Copyright Philstar 2023-01-20

Families go about with their day as they extend their space in front of their shanties along a road in Delpan, Tondo, Manila on August 21, 2022. The STAR / Miguel de Guzman MANILA, Philippines — A new poll by the Social Weather Stations showed that an estimated three million families experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the fourth quarter of 2022. The survey conducted on December 10 to 14 found that 11.8% of Filipino households experienced involuntary hunger — being hungry and not having anything to eat — in the last three months of the year. The latest hunger figure is slightly above the 11.3% obtained in a survey in October 2022, but it is slightly below the 12.2% in April. Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/01/20/2238986/sws-3-million-families-experienced-hunger-q4-2022 -- © Copyright Philstar 2023-01-20

Suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag attends the preliminary investigation for the murder case of broadcaster Percy Lapid at the Department of Justice on December 5, 2022. The STAR / KJ Rosales MANILA, Philippines — Six corrections officers from the Iwahig and Penal Farm in Palawan on Friday filed a torture complaint against suspended Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag before the Department of Justice. Aside from Bantag, others named as respondent in the new criminal complaint are former BuCor deputy security officer Supt. Ricardo Zulueta, former BuCor spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag, and jail guards Victor Erick Pascua, Bayani Allaga, Rose Marie Casion, Jayferson Bon-as, Joel Arnol, Kanoy Lattot, Ave Akilit, Edgar Angeles Jr and Michale Marzan. The respondents were accused of torture, oral defamation, grave threat, grave coercion, and obstruction of justice. No other detail on the complaint filed has been made public as of this story's posting. Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/01/20/2239007/corrections-officers-file-torture-complaint-vs-bantag -- © Copyright Philstar 2023-01-20

Southern Thailand to be hit by heavy rainfall from today until Wednesday Stock photo A total of 11 provinces in the south of the country can expect “some very heavy rain” from today and lasting until next Wednesday. That’s the forecast from the Thai Meteorological Department, with additional warnings of potential flash floods and river overflows. The conditions are the result of the strong north-easterly monsoon over the Gulf of Thailand and the south. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284118-southern-thailand-to-be-hit-by-heavy-rainfall-from-today-until-wednesday/

Stock photo A total of 11 provinces in the south of the country can expect “some very heavy rain” from today and lasting until next Wednesday. That’s the forecast from the Thai Meteorological Department, with additional warnings of potential flash floods and river overflows. The conditions are the result of the strong north-easterly monsoon over the Gulf of Thailand and the south. The following provinces are all in for some heavy rain starting today and lasting until Wednesday: Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Trang, and Satun. Meanwhile, Surat Thani, Phuket and Krabi can expect wet weather from Monday until Wednesday. But our resident Phuket GO weather forecasters (we publish the weather every morning HERE) don’t believe the rain will be as heavy in Phuket as forecast. Our forecast suggests there could be some rain showers tomorrow afternoon around 4pm and slightly later on Sunday afternoon. According to the TMD forecast, residents near mountain bases and in low-lying areas are being warned of the risk of flash flooding and overflows, according to the TMD. There are also strong winds and rough seas forecast for the Gulf of Thailand, with waves of up to 2 metres in height in the northern Gulf and between 2 – 3 metres high further south. “Waves may reach over 3 metres in height during storms. Small boats are advised to remain ashore and larger vessels are being told to proceed with extreme caution, avoiding areas with storms.” Today’s weather from Phuket Go says… Friday, January 20, 2022 – Phuket weather and tide report (7:00 am) Another mostly sunny day but a possible interruption mid to late afternoon with a band or rain. Moderate northerly winds will veer north easterly during the day, making any activities offshore pleasant. ‘Moderate’ air quality today although, at a reading of ’57. very close to ‘good in our iqair.com reading. There was a patch of rain, heavy in some locations around 6.30-7pm last night. On the weekend there could be some early evening showers, but only brief, as we look forward to a generally fine and hot Phuket Saturday and Sunday. Source: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/phuket-news/southern-thailand-to-be-hit-by-heavy-rainfall-from-today-until-wednesday/ -- © Copyright Phuket GO 2023-01-20 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

Kolour Phuket festival returns… remember their 2021 event? The Kolour Party returns to Phuket next month after organisers disgraced themselves back in May 2021 after running events in Phuket, against the Covid 19 restrictions at the time, that ended up as a superspreader event during Thailand’s first wave of Covid 19. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284116-kolour-phuket-festival-returns…-remember-their-2021-event/

The Kolour Party returns to Phuket next month after organisers disgraced themselves back in May 2021 after running events in Phuket, against the Covid 19 restrictions at the time, that ended up as a superspreader event during Thailand’s first wave of Covid 19. Back in May 2021, Patong police announced that the managers of the Phuket venues that hosted the Kolour superspreader event would be charged under Thailand’s Emergency Decree. The Kolour Beachside Festival was held April 2 and 3, 2021, with events at Café Del Mar Phuket in Kamala, and Shelter Phuket Dance and Night Club and Illuzion Nightclub, both in Patong. But now they’re back with Kolour Phuket 2023 and, according to their own promotion it’s “bigger than ever”. This year Kolour Phuket will be held over four weekends, instead of the usual two. “Expect to party on the weekends of the 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th February 2023.” “We are hosting Asia’s leading house and techno party season across the weekends of the 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th (February).” “Our lineup of home-grown artists and 12 international headliners are set to make this season one for the books.” Each date features a pre-party, main party, and an after party—venues include Shelter, Café del Mar, and Illuzion Phuket. The headliners include Claptone, Nakadia, Oden & Fatzo, Sam Divine and many more. Tickets start at 1,400 baht but the after-party only ticket is just 250 baht. Back in 2021, the Phuket Provincial Government and Phuket Provincial Public Health Office had to call on partygoers who went to any of the Kolour Beachside parties in Phuket to go to a local hospital for a Covid-19 test. The parties that year hosted more than 3,000 people, drawing concern after an attendee tested positive for Covid-19. Source: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/phuket-events/kolour-phuket-festival-returns-remember-their-2021-event/ -- © Copyright Phuket GO 2023-01-20 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

Khao Kheow Open Zoo to Host Chinese New Year Celebration Among Exotic Animals in Chonburi Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi hops in to host the Chinese New Year celebration complete with exotic animals to ring in the year of rabbits. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284115-khao-kheow-open-zoo-to-host-chinese-new-year-celebration-among-exotic-animals-in-chonburi/

Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi hops in to host the Chinese New Year celebration complete with exotic animals to ring in the year of rabbits. The zoo will be decorated in a Chinese theme, filled with brightly red ornaments such as fortune lanterns and archways to welcome tourists, and of course, the door is open for all nationalities. Many friendly and exotic animals at Khao Kheow Open Zoo will be joining this celebration by showcasing their spectacular talents. One of the stars there is “Power” the baby white rhino. Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/01/20/khao-kheow-open-zoo-to-host-chinese-new-year-celebration-among-exotic-animals-in-chonburi/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2023-01-20 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

41 suspects, including alleged Chinese crime boss, indicted on multiple charges A Chinese national accused of being the leader of various Chinese triads operating in Thailand has been indicted on multiple charges. Chaiyanat Kornchayanant is one of 41 people indicted on charges that include drug trafficking and money laundering. Several of his fellow suspects are also Chinese nationals, according to a Thai PBS World report. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284114-41-suspects-including-alleged-chinese-crime-boss-indicted-on-multiple-charges/

A Chinese national accused of being the leader of various Chinese triads operating in Thailand has been indicted on multiple charges. Chaiyanat Kornchayanant is one of 41 people indicted on charges that include drug trafficking and money laundering. Several of his fellow suspects are also Chinese nationals, according to a Thai PBS World report. Chaiyanat, also known as “Tuhao”, and 40 others, were indicted yesterday at the Bangkok South Criminal Court. This latest development came after attorney-general Naree Tantasathien gave the go-ahead for all 41 suspects to be indicted on multiple charges. In addition to drug trafficking and money laundering, the charges include criminal association with multinational criminal gangs, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, running a nightlife venue without permission, hiring foreign employees without work permits, working without permits, and sheltering illegal immigrants. The investigation into Chaiyanat and his associates first kicked off following an official complaint from businessman Chuwit Kamolvisit. The former massage parlour tycoon alleged that a number of Chinese businesses run by Chaiyanat and his associates were operating in suspicious circumstances. Chuwit’s allegations followed an October 26 police raid on the Jinling Pub in the Bangkok district of Yan Nawa. In that raid, 104 customers, most of them Chinese, tested positive for illegal substances. The venue has links to Chaiyanat, who is believed to hold a majority stake in around 22 companies in Thailand. He has denied that any illegal drugs were used at the venue. The subsequent investigation, led by deputy national police chief Surachate Hakparn, was extended to look into additional businesses owned by the Chinese national. The authorities have also seized property owned by Chaiyanat and his accomplices, understood to be worth over 5 billion baht. In addition, at least 3 generals and hundreds of of immigration officials are alleged to be implicated in the ongoing investigation. Chaiyanat’s Thai wife, Wattanaree Kornchayanant, was also recently arrested on money laundering charges. It’s understood her husband attained Thai citizenship through his marriage to Wattanaree, who also happens to be a former police colonel. She’s also the niece of Pracha Promnok, a former National Police Chief who served as deputy minister in the Yingluck Shinawatra administration. Source: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/national-news/41-suspects-including-alleged-chinese-crime-boss-indicted-on-multiple-charges/

Thai Health Minister Joins Forces with UK to Develop Genomic Testing To Better Diagnose Cancers PHOTO: Khaosod Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, as a representative of Thailand, signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Kingdom’s deputy minister of Health and Social Care to develop genomic testing to diagnose diseases more accurately. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284113-thai-health-minister-joins-forces-with-uk-to-develop-genomic-testing-to-better-diagnose-cancers/

PHOTO: Khaosod Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, as a representative of Thailand, signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Kingdom’s deputy minister of Health and Social Care to develop genomic testing to diagnose diseases more accurately. The signing took place yesterday, January 19th, in London, UK, said deputy government spokesperson Traisulee Traisoranakul. Anutin signed an MOU with Lord Nick Markham CBE to build a partnership between the Health Systems Research Institute in Thailand and the Ministry of Public Health and Social Care of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to research better diagnostic tests that are more accurate and specific for cancers and infectious diseases, using genomics technologies. Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/01/20/thai-health-minister-joins-forces-with-uk-to-develop-genomic-testing-to-better-diagnose-cancers/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2023-01-20 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

Manufacturers Urged to Shift to Renewable Energy to Reduce Costs BANGKOK (NNT) - The Ministry of Industry emphasized the importance of manufacturers seriously embracing renewable energy, highlighting higher electricity bills as a critical factor in bringing firms’ attention to this issue. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284112-manufacturers-urged-to-shift-to-renewable-energy-to-reduce-costs/

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Ministry of Industry emphasized the importance of manufacturers seriously embracing renewable energy, highlighting higher electricity bills as a critical factor in bringing firms’ attention to this issue. The Office of Industrial Economics (OIE) stated that the industrial sector should consider shifting towards renewable energy in order to alleviate the financial burden caused by rising electricity bills. Using renewable energy such as biomass or solar power could be implemented alongside efficient management of electricity usage to lower costs. OIE Director-General Warawan Chitaroon stated that the government is aware that higher electricity prices will affect businesses, but the Energy Regulatory Commission can only slightly reduce a planned increase in the power tariff which is used to calculate electricity bills, from 20.5% to 13%. The increase in the power tariff, from 4.72 baht per kilowatt-hour (unit) to 5.33 baht per unit, will result in a variety of increased manufacturing costs, depending on the sector. The fuel tariff (Ft) is a key factor in the power tariff and is determined by the fuel cost for energy generation in the country. Thailand’s Ft is high when compared to neighboring countries, with the OIE reporting that the country’s Ft rate ranks third in ASEAN, behind Singapore and the Philippines. The Federation of Thai Industries also expressed concerns in regard to the country’s Ft, stressing that high energy prices can deter foreign investments or force manufacturers to cancel existing contracts for business in the country. Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230120100350932 -- © Copyright NNT 2023-01-20 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

Government Discloses Report of Cybercrime Crackdown in 2022 BANGKOK (NNT) - The government has disclosed that nearly 60,000 bank accounts were frozen last year, with almost 120,000 telephone numbers frozen for their use in criminal operations. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1284111-government-discloses-report-of-cybercrime-crackdown-in-2022/